Which statement about agoraphobia is true when presented as a standalone diagnosis?

Which statement about agoraphobia is true when presented as a standalone diagnosis?

• A. Agoraphobia is diagnosed when there is fear or anxiety about situations where escape might be difficult, with impairment, for at least 6 months.
• B. Agoraphobia can only occur after a panic disorder.
• C. Agoraphobia requires fear of one specific place.
• D. Agoraphobia is no longer a recognized diagnosis.

Answer: (C)

Agoraphobia as a standalone diagnosis centers on fear or anxiety about situations in which escape might be difficult or help might not be available, leading to avoidance, distress, or impairment, and this pattern persists for six months or more. It’s not about fearing a single specific place; rather, the fear spans multiple situations such as using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in crowds, waiting outside the home, or being outside the home alone. Importantly, it can occur with panic disorder but does not have to, so it can exist independently as well. This combination of multiple situations, impairment, and a six-month duration is what makes the description true for a standalone diagnosis.

Agoraphobia as a standalone diagnosis centers on fear or anxiety about situations in which escape might be difficult or help might not be available, leading to avoidance, distress, or impairment, and this pattern persists for six months or more. It’s not about fearing a single specific place; rather, the fear spans multiple situations such as using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in crowds, waiting outside the home, or being outside the home alone. Importantly, it can occur with panic disorder but does not have to, so it can exist independently as well. This combination of multiple situations, impairment, and a six-month duration is what makes the description true for a standalone diagnosis.